Scott D. Pierce: Sir Charles still believes Jazz can win

By Scott D. Pierce , Deseret News

Published: Friday, May 25 2007 12:08 a.m. MDT

Down two games to none in their Western Conference championship series against the Spurs, things aren't looking all that good for the Jazz. But one high-profile TV analyst is still high on Utah.
And it's TNT's Charles Barkley, believe it or not.
Appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Tuesday, Barkley told the host that "San Antonio and Utah is going to be a six- or seven-game series. I think Utah is going to win. I think it's going to be Detroit and Utah in the Finals."
Whoa. Did Barkley see Game 2 before he made those comments?
Actually, no he didn't. The "Late Show" aired after the Jazz had lost to the Spurs on Tuesday, but it was taped before the game tipped off.
Oh, well.
You've got to hand it to Barkley for at least flying in the face of conventional TV wisdom. When Letterman asked if having the Pistons and the Jazz in the NBA Finals would be a "glamorous pairing," Barkley replied, "You know, it always annoys me when people say that. I wish that we could have Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Shaquille and everybody, but I want to see the best teams."
And, "If you're in the final four, you've got a good team."

If you're wondering why the schedule for the NBA conference finals is so spread out, c'mon, do you even need to ask?
It's all about TV scheduling and attempting to maximize ratings.

And if you're still wondering why the Jazz aren't on KJZZ-Ch. 14 again until next season, it's easy. ABC and ESPN have exclusive broadcast rights to the Western Conference Finals.
(TNT has the exclusive rights to the Eastern Conference Finals, not that that has anything to do with the Jazz or KJZZ.)
If the Jazz make it to the NBA Finals, you won't even need cable anymore. All those games will be on ABC, which is broadcast on channel 4 locally.

Former RSL player Brian Dunseth is doing a nice job as an analyst for Real Salt Lake TV telecasts. But, like many relative newcomers, he has fallen into a bad habit.
Dunseth's is the word "definitely," which he repeats over and over and over again.
And it's not necessary to say, "Yeah, definitely" every time play-by-play man Bill Reilly says anything.

Barkley told Letterman he has no regrets about not making a comeback in 2001, the same year Michael Jordan came back to play for the Wizards.
"That was a a good decision I made not to come back. ... He was the greatest basketball player ever, and he wasn't any good when he came back," Barkley said. "Imagine how bad I would have been."
He went on to say he doesn't even play basketball anymore.
"I just can't play. It's not for fat people," Barkley said.